Yes, they are real.

This is one of several typical deployment patterns for Soviet-made S-75 (ASCC-code 'SA-2 Guideline') SAM-sites.

(SAM = surface-to-air missile; ASCC = Air Standardisation Coordinating Committee; a commission originally consisting of US, British and Australian representatives, responsible for assigning code-names to unknown pieces of Soviet-made arms; meanwhile it's code-names are colloquially known as 'NATO codes/names')

Now, what is the reason for such pattern?

It's the combination of equipment of each site and the necessity for all-round defence.

The essence of each SA-2 site is the RSNA-75 (ASCC-code 'Fan Song') fire-control radar and six single-round launchers. These are semi-mobile: the Fan Song is installed on a towed trailer, while each of six launchers can be loaded onto specialized trailer too.

Usually, SAM-sites are deployed well outside (but still close enough to) urban areas, where there are no roads. But, they still need communications - for utility vehicles, for transport vehicles, and for re-load missiles. Especially vehicles with re-load missiles (a truck with a long trailer on which the re-load is mounted) need good 'roads' or 'ways' through the SAM-site, so they can move quickly. Namely, it takes time to re-load missiles, they are heavy and big, and the SAM-site (and the object it is protecting) is de-facto defenceless until new missiles are installed and ready to fire.

Thus, whenever a new site is constructed, also a system of 'roads' or 'pads' is constructed along which such vehicles can move to serve launchers and other support equipment.

One of most frequent patterns along which such roads or pads were constructed for SA-2 sites was that 'Star-shaped' pattern. Reason for it was that the essence of each SA-2 site was its SRNA-75 radar (ASCC-code 'Fan Song') and six, single-round launchers. The Fan Song was usually positioned in the centre of the site, with six launchers distributed in circular pattern around it. Approach roads/pads to the launchers then usually resulted in something like 'star-pattern'.

There were several other patterns with different forms of deviations from that one. For example, most of SA-2 sites constructed in the Middle East had a pattern that could be described as 'orbits'. Then there was a pattern for SAM-sites dedicated to defence in specific direction, which can be described as a 'wall', etc.

Re. recommended read, i.e. sources of reference: don't know many printed or online publications - especially not ones dealing with the deployment pattern of SAM-sites. But, the few that do discuss this topic would be such like:

• Arab MiGs, Volumes 4 & 5, which is offering nice diagrams for deployment patterns of SA-2, SA-3 and SA-6 sites

• Red SAM: The SA-2 Guideline Anti-Aircraft Missile.